By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, Nov. 28 (Greenpost)– The Council of the European Union today gave the go-ahead for a directive on representative actions. The aim of the directive is to strengthen consumer rights, according to news reaching here from the EU presidency office in Finland.

Representative actions are intended to increase the consumer’s chances to receive compensation for losses they suffer as a result of traders infringing consumer rights legislation. The idea is to strengthen the enforcement of consumer rights in situations where the same product or service has caused harm to several consumer.

Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson said, “I am pleased that the Council reached agreement on the directive on representative actions. The opportunity to claim compensation by bringing a representative action is a pioneering step at EU level, and it should enable consumers to stand up for their rights more effectively.”

Under the compromise proposal approved by the Council, qualified entities (such as consumer organisations or public bodies) could bring an action on behalf of a group of consumers. This would avoid individual consumers having to defend their interests alone. The consumers’ representative would have the right not only to apply for an injunction against the infringing trader, as is already the case, but also to seek compensation for defects or to require the trader to repair or replace the defective product.

From the trader’s point of view, the directive would help prevent abusive litigation and strengthen legal security. It would also contribute to the proper functioning of the internal market by ensuring a level playing field for all traders.

There are currently major differences in member states’ national legislation on access to class actions or other forms of collective redress. Some countries do not recognise any kind of collective action.

As the next step before adoption, the Council and the European Parliament will start negotiations on the proposal during Croatia’s Presidency of the Council in the first half of 2020.

The Directive on representative actions is part of the Commission’s “New Deal for Consumers”.

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 28(Greenpost) -EU ministers responsible for industry and the internal market met in Brussels on 28 November chaired by Minister of Employment Timo Harakka and Minister of Economic Affairs Katri Kulmuni. The Competitiveness Council agreed a general approach on the directive on representative actions to strengthen consumer rights. This means that negotiations can be launched with the European Parliament.

News reaching here from EU rotating presidency Finland says the directive obliges Member States to include in their legal systems a representative action procedure that meets the requirements of the directive. Under the directive, qualified representatives could launch actions on behalf of consumers in cases where the collective interests of consumers have been violated.

Minister Harakka said: “I’m very pleased that we agreed a general approach on the directive on representative actions. The directive would allow consumers to defend their rights more effectively throughout the EU, while at the same time protecting entrepreneurs.”

The Competitiveness Council also discussed another legislative proposal, a directive concerning disclosure of income tax information by large international companies.

Minister Harakka said: “Unfortunately, we did not reach agreement on the issue. I hope that progress can be made in further negotiations.”

Minister Harakka added: “In 2016, when the Panama Papers were made public, EU policy-makers vowed to take action against tax evasion. I’m disappointed that we were unable to deliver on the promises made to EU citizens. I hope that this issue will be actively promoted both by the new Commission and by future presidencies.”

Ministers also discussed the external dimension of EU competitiveness, which is closely linked to the strategy for sustainable growth prepared by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Minister Harakka said: “From the point of view of EU external competitiveness, it’s important that the EU has a functioning single market, an ability to innovate, sufficient competence and a business environment that helps companies grow and attracts investments. In addition, we must ensure that the global market is a level playing field. The debate will inform the new Commission as it prepares EU policies for the next five-year period.”

Over lunch, chaired by Minister Katri Kulmuni, ministers discussed SME policy and the priorities of the future SME strategy

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, Nov. 28(Greenpost) — Experts from several European countries and organisations met in Helsinki to explore how to accelerate the fight against work-related cancer. The cooperation will be further strengthened by continuing the Roadmap on Carcinogens campaign, which aims to raise awareness about carcinogens and reduce exposure to them. An agreement on the continuation of the campaign was signed in Helsinki on 28 November 2019.

The Roadmap on Carcinogens Conference is one of the official meetings of Finland’s Presidency of the EU Council.

Towards common, binding limit values

Every year in Europe, around 120,000 workers develop work-related cancer and 80,000 die as a result of it. Work-related cancer causes more than half of all deaths associated with working conditions.

“These figures are alarming. We must work more effectively to prevent exposure to carcinogenic substances. By increasing our knowledge about carcinogens, how to manage them and how to prevent exposure to them, we are already taking an important step forward. This makes the Roadmap on Carcinogens an extremely important communication campaign. This information is vital to employers and employees alike,” said Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen when she opened the conference on 27 November.

The goal is to limit exposure to carcinogenic substances at work in the EU by setting binding limit values to be complied with at workplaces. The European Commission is in the process of amending the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive with four separate proposals, The Commission has already published the first three proposals amending the Directive, and they are now being implemented by the Member States. The Commission is currently preparing the fourth proposal for a directive and is expected to adopt it in early 2020.

Finland is now passing the baton to Germany, which will continue the Roadmap on Carcinogens campaign until the end of 2020.

At the conference, we heard a presentation by Christa Sedlatschek, Executive Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, on cancer risks at workplaces. According to her, there is still a need for better risk assessment at workplaces, in addition to more information. Practical tools, good practices and examples would help in getting rid of the most dangerous substances or replacing them with less harmful ones.

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, Nov. 28(Greenpost)–The International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) recognized professor Herbert Gleiter with the prestigious Advanced Materials Laureate 2019. Professor Gleiter is awarded for his substantial contributions towards research perspective, expanding education, promoting materials research and its application at a global standard. The award ceremony was held on November 1st during the Asian Advanced Materials Congress, on the Voyager of the Seas, RCC, Singapore. It was the 30th assembly of the flagship event Advanced Materials Congress and it was graced with the participation of researchers and industry decision maker from over 40 countries.

– I think it’s a very good idea to organize events om cruise ships. Keeping people together and putting them all in a pleasant atmosphere will create high networking opportunities. Science comes out from discussions, it will not come from papers or telephone calls, says Prof. Herbert Gleiter.

Herbert Gleiter is a pioneer in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, especially in nanoglasses and non-crystalline nanomaterials. He has a Ph.D. in physics from the Technical University of Stuttgart, Germany and obtained his D.Sc. in material science at the University of Bochum, Germany. He was the Professor/Director of the Institute of Material Science, University of  Saarland, Germany during 1973–1994. He was also the founding director of the Institute of New Materials, Saarbruecken, Germany aswell as director of the Institute of Nanotechnology, Research Center Karlsruhe, Germany. Prof. Gleiter has almost six decades of experience in this field and has been widely recognized by many countries and scientific organizations including the Leibniz, the Max Planck Prize, the Humboldt, Heisenberg, von Hippel and the Blaise Pascal Medal as well as four honorary doctorates and several honorary professorships. In order to promote research in advanced materials and innovation in the Asian continent, he established the Herbert Gleiter Institute of Nanoscience at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China in 2012.

Every year, IAAM honors the pioneer researchers with the Advanced Materials Laureate for their notable and outstanding contributions to the advancement of materials for global excellence.
– Advanced Materials Laureate is considered one of the highest honors for a researcher working in a diverse background, either from physical, chemical, biological, engineering, mathematical and medical sciences along with their substantial contribution towards research perspective, expanding education, promoting materials research and its applications at a global standard, mentoring professionals and series of advancements on the related topics. We are very happy to award Professor Gleiter for Laureate of 2019, says Dr. Ashutosh Tiwari, founder of IAAM.

IAAM is engaged in promotion of the rapidly expanding field of advanced materials science, engineering and technology all over the world. The association also offers the highest honors to scientists and young technocrats to inspire them to develop innovative technology for social empowerment.  During the 30th Advanced Materials Congress, IAAM recognized the innovative ideas of researchers, scientists, and technocrats from all over the world to give them an impetus to progress in their respective research areas. The selections for these IAAM awards are done by a duly constituted awards committee and are given to the awardees at the AMC assemblies.

By Xuefei Chen Axelsson

Stockholm, Nov. 28(Greenpost) — Finland’s Foreign Minister Haavisto highlighted the importance of human rights-based foreign policy in his speech to the Paasikivi Society in Helsinki on 27 November.

According to Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, the world is undergoing fundamental change, and Finland cannot be just a bystander. In addition to geopolitics, there is also a fight for ideologies and ideas. According to the Foreign Minister, we must ensure that a country such as Finland has a living space in the world and that we have partners who understand our way of thinking and interests.

“Values and interests can also be merged in foreign policy, and this is how I feel about human rights. We defend a world order where we have room for manoeuvre and where it is possible for us to maintain peace, stability and prosperity,” Haavisto says.

The Government Programme describes the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, democracy, peace, freedom, tolerance and equality as the value base for Finland’s foreign policy. The value base will also be reflected in the Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy, the work on which began this autumn.

“Values are not a postscript of our activities, but at the heart of everything. Values that are important to us can and must be defended. It is worthwhile to apply actively for play positions in order to promote international cooperation,” Foreign Minister Haavisto says.

Comment: Many people believe geopolitics is the source or the reason why the world has war because someone always likes to interfere in others affairs and go beyond their border to get their own benefit. Guarding the human rights, the rule of law democracy peace, freedom, tolerance and equality are the values for every country. It is a goal for every body to strive for. Only that due to historical reasons, western power got a step forward by launching many wars in history so that the world is divided by developed countries and developing countries.

Now the words fighting the battle are used everywhere and that sounds very frightening.

2019年11月23日   来源：央视新闻客户端   

　　北欧绿色邮报网援引央视新闻客户端，当地时间21日，马来西亚移民局宣布破获2019年以来国内最大宗的网络诈骗案。涉案团伙是一个由中国人主导、面向中国的网络诈骗集团，共逮捕680名中国籍人员协助调查。在今天(22日)举行的外交部例行记者会上，发言人耿爽也对此事进行了回应。

　　诈骗集团以高额报酬为饵 向中国人实行诈骗

　　马来西亚移民局总监拿督凯鲁称，该局在20日上午逮捕了680名年龄介于19至35岁的中国人。其中603人为男性，77人为女性。行动中共缴获8230部手机、174部手提电脑，以及787部个人电脑。

　　拿督凯鲁表示，该诈骗集团以高额和快速的报酬为饵，向中国国内的受害者进行诈骗。所有的交易和付款都是通过微信支付(Wechat Pay)或在中国的银行进行。

　　诈骗集团成员以旅游观光签证入境大马

　　此外，根据初步调查，该集团成员是以旅游观光签证入境大马。而这滥用签证的行为也违反了1963年移民局的相关法律。

　　目前此案正在审理中。马来西亚移民局将会同国家银行、警方、通讯及多媒体委员会、大马公司委员会、地方政府以及相关其它部门和机构协同调查。

　　我外交部：支持依法打击 望马方公正处理

　　在22日下午举行的外交部例行记者会上，发言人耿爽就此事进行了回应。

　　耿爽称，中国驻马来西亚大使馆已经收到了马方有关通报。中方支持马方依法打击违法犯罪活动，希望马方公正处理有关案件。同时，耿爽强调，海外中国公民应遵守当地法律法规，切勿参与任何形式的违法犯罪活动。

北欧绿色邮报网报道援引财新网消息（记者 单玉晓）死刑复核权收归最高法院已近13年，虽然有说法称中国的死刑执行数量下降明显，但近年来个别冤错案件暴露出死刑复核程序的弊端，其运行机制饱受质疑。死刑案件律师辩护全覆盖在复核阶段往往遭遇“最后一公里”的窘境。

　　中国刑事诉讼奠基人、89岁的中国政法大学终身教授陈光中长期关注死刑复核程序，他呼吁加强死刑复核诉讼化改造，实现死刑复核阶段辩护律师全覆盖。

陈光中老教授的意见值得中央考虑，中国与欧洲西方国家的最大区别就是中国依然有死刑。死刑在一定时期内还是很难完全取消，但是，最大限度限制死刑，可以极大地保护人权。这是人权问题上的一个症结所在。中国依然是发展中国家，但是，明年，如果三大攻坚战取得胜利，就会实现全面脱贫。全面脱贫，社会保障全覆盖，必然在社会上形成安定稳定的局面。这样，离废除死刑的距离就会近一步。但首先给死刑复核阶段辩护律师全覆盖，就可以增加透明性，对社会的法律意识增强，依法治国都大大地有好处。对公平正义也有好处，减少个案冤案十分重要，这样可以减少社会个别人的极端行为和仇恨。增强社会和解。

Stockholm, Nov.19(Greenpost)–The International Monetary Fund’s statement assesses Finland’s fiscal policy and financial markets, among other things. It warns about risks to Finland’s general government finances.

According to news reaching here from Helsinki, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) notes that the objectives set out in Finland’s Government Programme are ambitious and deal with issues important for the economy. It also considers the loosening of fiscal policy in 2020 to be good for growth. However, the IMF warns the Government about the risks to general government finances in the medium term. It points to the challenge of getting the Government Programme implemented.

The IMF says in its statement that the growing demands of healthcare and social welfare services emphasise the importance of achieving a fiscal balance. It also states that fiscal buffers are necessary to ensure that the social welfare model can be preserved. If the global economy weakens beyond expectations, this, says the IMF, will increase the risks to Finland’s general government finances.

In the IMF’s view, effective employment measures are available, but these should not be allowed to increase general government costs in order to ensure a fiscal balance.

Minister of Finance Mika Lintilä points out that the IMF has highlighted precisely the difficult issues that the Government is very familiar with.

“The Government Programme is demanding. It is clear that the cornerstones are a fiscal balance, a restructuring of health and social services and raising of the employment rate. These will not be achieved automatically, but require determined action,” says Minister Lintilä. 

The IMF is also concerned about the continuation of household indebtedness. It welcomes the measures proposed by the working group of the Ministry of Finance and stresses the need to curb borrowing by housing companies.

The IMF’s Executive Board will discuss the country report on Finland in early 2020, along with a separate report on the equality impact and effectiveness of Finland’s taxation system and social security system.

The IMF issues corresponding statements about all its member countries as part of its country monitoring. The IMF’s visits to member countries are called Article IV Consultations, as they are required by Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement. The statement is based on IMF experts’ own assessments and on discussions they have had with Finnish authorities, labour market organisations, financial institutions, research institutes and others.